Puppy born without eyelids and eye problems treated with surgery

Abstract

A 15-week-old Australian Labradoodle puppy was presented to The University of Queensland Small Animal Hospital for bilateral eyelid agenesis/coloboma and associated ocular complications. Enucleation of the left globe and repair of the right eyelid via a lip-to-lid transmucosal flap was performed. Given the subsequent development of prolapse of the gland of the nictitating membrane and a lack of vision of the right eye, enucleation of the right globe was then performed 2 months following the initial procedure. Both globes and a skin wedge from the right eye were submitted to The University of Queensland Veterinary Laboratory Service for histopathology assessment. Microscopic globe examination revealed lesions consistent with bilateral Peters' anomaly (anterior chamber cleavage syndrome, ACCS), characterized by axial defects in Descemet's membrane and the posterior corneal stroma, anterior synechiae at the site of the defects, and closure of the drainage angle. Other important histological findings were persistent pupillary membranes, retinal separation, and aphakia. Histopathology of the skin wedge from the right eye demonstrated complete absence of conjunctival goblet cells, tarsal plate, and meibomian glands, consistent with the finding of eyelid agenesis/coloboma. This report describes an uncommon and underreported presentation of bilateral canine lower eyelid agenesis with concurrent multiple congenital ocular anomalies, including bilateral Peters' anomaly.